Leila & Ben - Handmade for Modern Kids

The end of an Old Blog and the beginning of a New Blog...

2008-09-02T22:33:00.002-06:00

We're moving our blog to leilaandben.blogspot.com. We're also having a Fall Giveaway! If you'd like to win one of these beautiful new dresses before they hit our Etsy store, enter here!

Be sure to update your blogroll with our new blog address to see what's new here at Leila & Ben!

Dwell Towels

2008-08-19T10:14:00.003-06:00

I love Dwell Studio. And I love their kids designs even more! Aren't these towels ridiculously cute? I would love to snuggle my little ones up in these after their baths. And they would look so great hanging in the kids bathroom! Actually I think I have a modern chair fetish too so this photo combines the best of both worlds! Get the towels at Design Public.

One Potato, Two Potato...

2008-08-16T11:17:00.004-06:00

I just ran across the lovely Three Potato Four. They are an online store selling a unique mix of vintage and modern housewares, paper goods, and kids items. I really love this Giraffe Mug and Dish set by Shinzi Katoh.

... and these sweet Ceramic Pigeon Vases by J. Mendicino.

... tired of birds yet? I know I'm not!

We're Back!

2008-08-15T23:48:00.006-06:00

So, it's been a while since we've updated our blog! Yikes - we haven't posted since May! Well, think of it as an extended summer break... or maybe it's because we've been up to some interesting things here at Leila & Ben.

First, if you haven't seen our new store already, go and check out our Pattern Store over at Etsy for modern sewing and crochet patterns for kids (and Mamas!). Our patterns are made for beginners, with clear instructions and step-by-step photos. We hope to get a few more up in the next few weeks, including a bolero jacket pattern, a simple skirt pattern, and a Mama apron in the same style as our toddler apron.

I also wanted to post a link to some beautiful modern furniture for kids. It's bit pricey for me, but you might decide you just can't live without it! I love the bold colours and the styled legs. And don't you just adore that twin bed?? They also ship to Canada - yay! It's made by True Modern via All Modern Furniture.

Giveaway Winner!

2008-05-01T18:44:00.005-06:00

April is over and we've picked our winner for our April Giveaway! We put all the numbers in a hat tonight and Leila picked one out:

Congratulations to Jamie who was the 22nd poster (and coincidentally the last one!) and said, "i love the sweet little dress! i am going to order one!"

Yay for giveaways! We're so happy these little birdies will soon be on their way to their new home! Check back for another giveaway in May!

Just a Little Sneak Peek

2008-04-10T18:14:00.002-06:00

Just thought I'd post what we're working on right now... soon to be listed in our Etsy shop.

April Giveaway!

2008-04-09T16:23:00.008-06:00

Yay! We're so excited to announce our first giveaway here at Leila & Ben! We're giving away a Mama and Baby Birdie Plushie set to one lucky winner. Here's how it works:

* Check out our shop at babyleila.etsy.com

* Leave a comment in this post about your favourite item in our shop or what you'd really like to see in our shop!

* Please only post once and leave a way for us to get a hold of you if you win (blog, email, etsy shop).

* Winner will be announced on April 30th!

This is an INTERNATIONAL contest and we'll pay the shipping to anywhere! What have you got to lose? Tell your friends (or maybe you want to keep this contest all to yourself!)

New Designs are Coming!

2008-04-01T18:16:00.005-06:00

Yay! We'll be posting some new designs in our shop this week - look for our new puddles pants, some new mobiles, new dresses, and more! Spring is definitely here! I found some delicious japanese fabric that I hope to incorporate into some designs - I've already used some of the dinosaur fabric on the new Puddle Jumping Pants. What little kid doesn't love dinosaurs?

Lotta Jansdotter

2008-03-31T09:20:00.003-06:00

I've always been a big fan of Lotta Jansdotter. Her simple style mixed with traditional and modern Scandinavian form is simply fabulous. I thought I'd do a little posts on one of her great books: Simple Sewing. Filled with all sorts of sewing projects, from totes to to things for the home, this book is great for not only expert sewer, but also aspiring sewers. Available at Jansdotter.com

For the Doggies

2008-03-03T20:14:00.003-07:00

Many families with kids also include dogs, so when I stumbled upon Vurv Designs the other day, I knew I had to share the love. Based in Coquitlam, Canada, they have a modern pet line that would make any dog smile (or at least wag their tails). I especially love this raised feeder - who knew dog bowls could fit so seamlessly in the modern home? And their ellipse dog bed would be right at home beside my (future) Eames Lounge Chair.

Beautiful Bird Prints

2008-02-29T08:43:00.004-07:00

I found these gorgeous bird prints from Kareem Rizk of Austrailia via Design Sponge. Wouldn't they look amazing in a nursery or kids bedroom??? So modern and full of interesting detail, they're also affordable at under $25 a print, and 10% of every purchase goes to Starlight Children's Foundation Australia. Available at BlueFlip Art.

DwellStudio Wall Art

2008-02-29T08:02:00.006-07:00

Dwell has some fantastic crib sets and other linens and now has come out with this new playful Wall Art. The colours are bold without being overwhelming and it's easy to mix and match and pair a few (or all) pieces together.

Tot Trends Weekly

2008-02-26T17:32:00.003-07:00

Thanks to Angie over at Dolce Baci Boutique on Etsy for letting us know that we've been featured in the latest issue of Tot Trends Weekly Magazine. One of our little ties made the cut! Check it out and the other picks of the week here.

What a Lovely Way to Eat Your Lunch

2008-02-19T12:37:00.006-07:00

I just stumbled on these fun designs by Isak. Based in the UK, they have a wonderful line of dishes. They also have cards, wallpaper, and textiles, but I'm especially drawn to their dishes. Maybe my toddler would sit still long enough to actually eat her lunch with these entertaining dishes...

Kids Bedding

2008-02-19T11:15:00.006-07:00

Modern Bedding for your kid's room by Anki Spets for Area at Design Public. I love the clean prints and fresh colours. They have an organic look to them and their "fabric feels like a breath of fresh air against your skin." Lovely!

New Beanie Caps

2008-02-18T20:10:00.004-07:00

We've listed a few new beanies in our shop. They're meant to sit above the ears, making them perfect for spring. We'll be listing more in our shop over the coming weeks, so check back for more colours and styles.

Perch

2008-02-14T11:33:00.005-07:00

I just love this bird pendant from Perch. Wouldn't it look fabulous in a baby bedroom (or mommy's room???!?)? The simple and smooth shape is so modern, yet playful.

I'm also loving these Triangle Bird Lights:

and this beautiful birdfeeder:

Sneak Peek!

2008-02-13T11:01:00.005-07:00

We're working on cropped pants for boys and girls at Leila and Ben. Made from a lightweight cotton/lycra blend, these pants are super comfortable and perfect for spring. Leila's been testing out a pair I made recently so I thought I'd show you some pictures of them in action! They're really sweet on their own or look fabulous under a sweet little dress as modern bloomers. Look for them in our store soon!

Romp Menagerie

2008-02-12T19:57:00.007-07:00

I love this idea! Made from vintage and reprinted wallpaper, these animals are the perfect way to add a little fun to your child's room without being overpowering. Made by Inke Heiland from the Netherlands, a whole menagerie is available at Romp.

Rollin'

2008-02-11T20:23:00.000-07:00

When I first saw the U Roll Scooter from Small Paul by 10 Grain ($175 USD) it made me wish I was small enough to go for a spin. I'm a sucker for molded plywood and the smooth design of this toy makes it style worthy to hang out even in the livingroom.

10 Grain also has more fabulous children's furniture by Small Paul, my favourite being this plywood chair. Available at Design Public for $220 USD for a set of two.

P'kolino Clothes Tree

2008-02-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post about great finds for modern kids, so I'd like to share this super fun clothes tree. Modern and functional, it would be a great addition to any modern kids' living space.

The P'kolino Clothes tree stand 4 feet tall and is very sturdy and durable. Available for $94 USD, I found it on Design Public, but they also have their own website here.

We're Having a Party!

2008-02-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

We're having a birthday party for little Leila and I made some Thank-you cards for her to hand out to her little guests after the party with a goodie bag. Leila is so excited to have a party and it's fun to see that this year she actually "gets" it.

We've come out with a few new argyle dresses (Leila is wearing the blue one on her card) which are perfect for Spring and Easter. The soft flannelette is so comfortable and cuddly and has such a spring look about it. We have 3 colours: blue, cream, and sage green. We'll be coming out with more sizes in the coming weeks. Check out our Etsy shop to see what's available!

A Spot of Tea

2008-01-24T16:51:00.000-07:00

An afternoon tea party - the stuff childhood memories are made of.

Some New Hats

2008-01-21T21:28:00.001-07:00

We've added some new modern caps to our shop. More to come!

2008-01-19T09:31:00.001-07:00

At a recent photo shoot we managed to catch Leila and Ben together in a few photos. This one's my favourite.

Tangled and True

2008-01-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Erica from Tangled and True wrote a great little bit about our ties on her blog. Tangled and True is "a slice of modern parenting" placing a focus on things that are modern, simple, pretty, and organic. They love to support mother/women-run products and services that prove non-mainstream. If you haven't visited them before, they are definately worth the read - and they might become one of your favourite blogs!

Behind the Scenes

2008-01-16T19:53:00.000-07:00

I always love reading about what goes on "behind the scenes" on other blogs, so I though I'd share a little bit about what goes on at Leila & Ben's. When it comes to taking product photos, it can be a bit tricky! Usually our own kiddos are models for our products and they sometimes get a little sick of mom always wanting them to change into a bunch of different clothing or wear another hat, etc. Little L was our model for our first Birdie Mobile and we wanted to get a picture of L looking at the mobile. Annette managed to get him to look by holding the mobile up and peeking over the screen. L was a gem and was giggling away at his Mommy and reaching for the mobile - it was really cute!

New Ties in Our Shop

2008-01-12T00:40:00.001-07:00

Some new ties in our Etsy shop. In our shop our style is to normally crop off part of the heads of our models (usually our own kiddos :) but I just had to share with you one of the full pictures I took of little J today. I think it's quite possible the cutest picture I have ever taken of him. Ever. Actually, he never sits still enough for me to get any pictures of him! ... but I figured out a way today! I sat him on a little stand and he couldn't figure out how to get off - he was at my mercy for a full 5 minutes for all the recent tie pictures. Yay! I just love his little chubby hands. But I guess as his mom, I'm a little biased!

Modeco kids

2008-01-12T00:30:00.000-07:00

Lisa over at Modeco kids was kind enough to feature Leila & Ben on her blog today. Modeco kids has a great philosophy, offering fresh finds from indie designers and mompreneurs. Her blog is ideal for buyers for baby boutiques and gift shops, media people including PR and magazine editors, and modern parents who seek authenticity and sustainability in purchases for their family. Thanks Lisa!

I'm a Polka Dot Mom!

2008-01-10T10:09:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sally for a feature over at Polkadotmom.com! Polka Dot Mom "features fun and friendly moms who create uniquely handmade polka dot products." If you haven't ever been to her blog, check it out - it's really a good read featuring other creative moms and offering tips, crafts ideas, recipes, and more!

White - Always in Style

2007-12-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

We found this cute white fabric at our supplier the other day... it's lightweight cotton with a totally modern pattern embroidered all over it. Just perfect for a sweet little dress! Unfortunately there was only a few meters left, so we can only make a few dresses out of it, but for now I am love, love, loving it!

Christmas Orders... and a Promotion!

2007-11-21T16:11:00.000-07:00

Less than 5 weeks to go until Christmas and we're working full speed to get your Christmas orders out to you! Just a reminder that our current cutoff dates to ensure arrival for Christmas are Dec. 3 for Canada and the USA, and Nov. 26 for International Orders.

Because we're in the Holiday Spirit, we're having a promotion! Get 10% off your order of $50 (minus shipping) or more from now until Nov. 30! Just enter the code word LEILABENCHRISTMAS in the message to seller and we'll send you a revised invoice (don't pay until you receive the revised invoice). Yay! This offer is an exclusive blog offer and is not announced in our shop as a thank-you to all of you who read our blog!

The Inspiration Behind Leila & Ben

2007-11-16T23:24:00.000-07:00

We thought we'd share with you the inspiration behind our shop Leila & Ben. Cousins and best buddies, they always have fun when they get together (with the occasional little fight thrown in there...) With kids like these it's impossible to NOT be inspired! I just had to pull out my camera to catch the moments..

Giveaway - Yoga Pants and Knot Hat Set!

2007-11-16T07:01:00.000-07:00

We've donated our Yoga Pants and Knot Hat set to the good people over at Smidge.ca to be given away to one luck winner!

Here's what you have to do: Simply browse our site and then post a comment on the Smidge.ca site about your favourite item for sale. A winner will be randomly chosen on November 30. Good luck!

Ties for Your Little Guy

2007-11-09T23:55:00.000-07:00

I have never been a big fan of ties... they can look stiff and uncomfortable and often seem to sit funny. I somehow got the idea in my head to try to make a modern tie - something that I would actually like putting on my little boy and would look cute and fresh. I picked some great fabrics and came up with some ties for our Etsy shop - comfortable, lightweight and super-modern looking, these ties really dress your boy up without making him look like a stiff miniature groom - he won't even notice it's there! Pair with cords or khakis and a white shirt and your little guy will steal the show.

Dress your Boy in Style this Christmas! Limited Edition!!!

2007-11-08T09:40:00.000-07:00

Dress your boy up for Christmas! Look at these cute Red Pants! The matching Tie looks cute and very modern.
This is a limited edition, so be quick!

Are you interested in buying? Visit our Etsy store. We have a promotion on NOW!
Buy three items, and get free shipping!

Baby Leila is now "Leila & Ben"

2007-11-02T07:43:00.000-06:00

We have been changing in the last few weeks... with the addition of boy clothes and larger sizes (up to 5T) the name Baby Leila seemed to not fit our company anymore. We've changed our name to Leila & Ben to reflect these changes and to neutralize the gender as we add more and more boys clothing. Hopefully there won't be too much confusion as we work towards a total changeover!

Our NEW Yoga Pants, Soon to be Launched!!!

2007-10-23T15:10:00.000-06:00

These are our new version of the popular Yoga Pants!!

Available in a brown and a beige, warm sweat-material, these Yoga Pants are not just cute but also very comfortable.
We are working on designing a sleeveless matching hoodie with these pants.
Soon available in our Etsy store!
Tell us what you think!

Sneak Peek - What We're Working on Right Now

2007-10-18T11:10:00.000-06:00

Soft micro corduroy is one of our favourite materials for winter. Jackets, dresses and more can look fabulous - simple, yet modern and cute. We're working hard on creating a few new pieces for our shop to compliment the existing pieces - in particular this little cord dress. Made of lightweight corduroy with 3 wooden buttons and subtle flared sleeves, it's super soft and has just the right fit. A mix of modern and retro in styling, any little girl would look fabulous in it.

New Sweet Little Dresses

2007-10-16T17:27:00.000-06:00

Time to start thinking about the holidays! I just love going to pick out fabric to make the perfect dress - especially if it's perfect for the holidays! New dresses are on the way!

New Items are Coming!

2007-10-08T13:13:00.000-06:00

We've been working on some new items for winter here at Baby Leila. In particular jackets and matching skirts and pants. I just finished this pink corduroy jacket - and it's reversible with grey and black camo on the inside! I just love it! The only thing is I haven't figured out what kind of button to put on it. A black one? A fabric covered one? A metal one? What do you think?

Winter is coming!!!!

2007-10-06T20:52:00.000-06:00

The leaves are falling and it's getting colder every day! Winter is really coming here in Alberta. Time for us to make some good warm winter gear for your baby and toddler!
Here is our newest hat for your boy.
We are always able to make them in a different colour - just ask about custom orders.

A New Dress for Leila

2007-10-05T14:07:00.000-06:00

Well, with the shop up and running, it's sometimes hard to find time to make clothes for my own kids! (Isn't that why we started all this?!?) Today I took some time to sew a Sweet Little Dress for Leila - it's not available in our Etsy shop, but if you are interested, we might be able to make one up for you!

xoxo Heather

Gifts Tags on Every Item

2007-10-04T12:29:00.000-06:00

Need a gift? At Baby Leila, we tag every item with a cute gift tag. It allows for a more professional look, and lets the recipient know that the item was handmade and specially picked for their child.

FREE SHIPPING IS ENDING!!!

2007-10-04T09:07:00.000-06:00

FREE SHIPPING ENDS ON OCTOBER 5!!!

Take advantage of free shipping! But be quick...it ends tomorrow!!!

Handmade cloting for little people!

2007-10-04T08:44:00.000-06:00

Our latest listings at babyleila!!